High School Sports

Most soccer section titles still up for grabs in final week

Automatic state tournament berths in soccer (boys and girls) this winter go only to section champions in each of the three divisions. That means four automatic berths in D-I, seven in D-II and six in D-III. Heading to this final week of regular-season play (Jan. 27-Jan. 30), here are how the automatic berths stand as of Monday Jan. 27 (AM):

Section 1 — Tempe High has the edge over Queen Creek and clinches with win over Saguaro on Jan. 28. Section 2 — Tucson has edge over Nogales and Salpointe. Needs wins over Desert View and or Sahuaro to clinch. Section 3 — Copper Canyon has edge over Verrado. Copper Canyon needs one more section win to clinch. Section 4 — Between Thunderbird and Cactus Shadows. Thunderbird has tie-breaker and needs one more section win. Section 5 — Coconino has clinched. Section 6 — Catalina Foothills meets Flowing Wells on Jan. 28. Winner takes the section. A tie between the teams means section title to Catalina Foothills. Section 7 — Cibola has edge over Kofa. If Cibola beats Kofa on Jan.29, Cibola clinches section. If Kofa beats Cibola, could come down to Kofa and San Luis for the section title. Tie-breaker between San Luis and Kofa favors San Luis.

Section 1 –– Millennium has edge over Willow Canyon. Millennium beats North on Jan. 29, it clinches. Section 2 — Basha, Perry and Highland all contending. Basha clinches if it defeats Highland on Jan. 28. Perry clinches with a Highland win over Basha and a Perry win over Red Mountain on Jan. 29. Highland wins in a three-way tie among Highland, Basha and Hamilton at 7-2 since it would have beaten both Basha and Hamilton. Section 3 — Xavier has edge over Deset Mountain. Xavier can clinch beating Desert Mountain on Jan. 28. Section 4 — Pinnacle has edge over Boulder Creek and Chaparral. Pinnacle clinches if it defeats Chaparral on Jan. 29.